ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 21 April 2016 Policy Lead Report - Transportation (Strategic, Local, Ferries, Piers, Harbours and Airports) 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This is my second report as Policy Lead for Transportation (Strategic, Local, Ferries, Piers, Harbours and Airports). 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 It is recommended that members note the contents of the paper. 3.0 UPDATES 3.1 Funding The Strategic Transportation Team have secured external funding, or are awaiting the outcome of bids, to deliver a number of transportation projects across Argyll and Bute during 2016/17. 3.1.1 SPT External Funding SPT are the Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) for the West of Scotland and their remit within Argyll and Bute covers the Helensburgh and Lomond area with the rest of Argyll and Bute within HITRANS’ remit. SPT’s capital programme has been subject to a significant cut in 2016/17 and SPT received funding applications totalling £40m from their 12 Councils for a funding pot of £15m. For 2016/17 SPT have awarded capital funding totalling £180k to Argyll and Bute Council to deliver the following projects:- Bus Infrastructure Upgrades - £100k Park and Ride (Gasometer Site) Land Purchase - £80k Details of these projects are as follows:- 3.1.1.1 Bus Infrastructure Upgrades Argyll and Bute Council have been awarded £100k from SPT’s 2016/17 Capital Programme to continue the programme of bus infrastructure upgrades on local bus routes in the Helensburgh area. These works are undertaken by the Council’s Roads Services and include installation of high raised kerbs, replacement of shelters and lining works. High raised kerbs allow better access to low floored buses for 1 passengers by reducing the vertical/horizontal gap between the bus and footway. New tactile paving will also be installed to assist partially sighted passengers to board buses. The bus stop waiting environment will be improved with the installation of new contemporary designed shelters and information panels. Bus shelters will be identified by the Council’s Public Transport Manager based on patronage figures and discussions with local elected members and bus operators. Lining of stops, where required, will also be undertaken as a priority. 3.1.1.2 Park and Ride (Gasometer Site) It has been an aspiration to deliver a park and ride facility serving Helensburgh for a number of years to ease pressure on town centre parking from commuters. SPT previously funded a feasibility study into a park and ride site serving Helensburgh. Since the feasibility study was undertaken, a site has become available in the centre of Helensburgh which could potentially be developed into a park and ride facility. This site is the former gasometer works located between East Princess Street and Grant Street which is ideally located for access to local public transport facilities e.g. Helensburgh Rail Station. Land negotiations are currently being progressed with Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) by Argyll and Bute Council’s Estates Department with a view to the Council purchasing the site for a park and ride facility. Land negotiations are understood to be at an advanced stage and this it is intended to purchase the site and undertake design works and planning in 2016/17 with a view to constructing a park and ride in 2017/18. This funding bid covers the anticipated costs associated with the land purchase and design. The Council are awaiting SGN providing ground condition surveys as the value of the site will be dependent of the level (if any) of remediation works required to decontaminate the ground. 3.1.1.3 Sustrans Funding Funding bids totaling £470,000 have been submitted to the Sustrans 2016/17 Community Links Programme by the Strategic Transportation Team. Sustrans will provide funding for up to 50% of the total cost of infrastructure that encourages increased levels of active travel, in particular walking and cycling. Funding bids are prepared by the Strategic Transportation Team who consult with other Council departments, including Roads Services, to identify potential projects and submit bids. Ultimately it is Sustrans who decide which projects are awarded funding as the Community Links Programme is always oversubscribed. It is therefore unlikely that all projects will be successful. Following consultation with relevant Council teams, funding bids for the following projects have been submitted to the 2016/17 Community Links Programme:- Hermitage Park Walking and Cycling Links - £300,000; Helensburgh and Lomond Cycleway - £100,000; Letterdaill (Cairnbaan) Footway Community Link - £50,000; Cycle Counter Upgrades - £20,000. Where possible, projects that are awarded funding will be designed and constructed in-house by Argyll and Bute Council, providing work for local Roads Services and 2 Design teams. 3.2 Awards 3.2.1 Nomination for Scottish Transport Award South Islay Distilleries Path has been nominated for a Scottish Transport Award. In 2015/16 the Council secured in excess of £300,000 of funding from Sustrans and this included the final phase of the South Islay Distilleries Path, which is a 5km remote cycle path, connecting the villages of Port Ellen with Ardbeg, in the south of the island. This project was managed by the Islay Community Access Group (ICAG) with support from Argyll and Bute Council and it was delivered following efforts to secure in excess of £700k of public and private sector funding. The path provides a traffic free, surfaced walking and cycling link between the villages of Port Ellen and Ardbeg and it is also a safe route to the local primary school at Port Ellen. In addition, the path provides access to the distilleries at Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig, which are key employers in the area and are also major local tourist attractions. Constructing such a considerable length of a path in a remote location, such as Islay, was both technically and financially challenging and, as such, every effort was made to source materials locally and use local contractors in order to keep project costs viable at the same time as achieving maximum benefit to the local economy. Initial monitoring indicates that in excess of 9000 people have used the path since August, averaging around 2500 users per month during summer 2015, and this figure is expected to grow, now that all sections of the route are complete and open for use. The path has proved extremely popular and was recently featured in an article in the Telegraph regarding the top 10 destinations in the Highlands and Islands to visit. 3.3 Rest and Be Thankful Bus Turning Facility All stakeholders are working together (Citylink, Transport Scotland, SPT, WCM) to resolve issues surrounding the use of the new bus turning facility at the Rest and Be Thankful by services operated by West Coast Motors. Discussions have now moved forward and stakeholders are working towards a resolution that will see services operated by West Coast Motors using the turning facility in May on a ring and request basis. The local 302 service continues to use the new facility. 3.4 Argyll and Bute Council: Road Safety Unit 3.4.1 “Scottish Biker Magazine” Launch The 3rd edition of the Scottish Biker Magazine, a publication produced by Road Safety West of Scotland, was launched on 20th March at a Biker event in Inveraray. Bikers came from all over Scotland and from as far as Northern Ireland, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Cumbria. Representatives also attending the event included Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, MOTOScotland, West Safety Camera Unit, Mary’s charity and Institute of Advanced Motorists The Council’s Road Safety Unit have been concentrating efforts on reaching motorcyclists who travel to the area. In partnership with Road Safety West of Scotland, the magazine aimed at 3 motorcyclists, both local and visitors, who ride on roads in the West of Scotland is being distributed free of charge throughout the area in an initiative supported by the 12 local authorities, Police and Fire Service. The magazine called Scottish Biker is written for bikers by bikers and aims to give information on all aspects of riding, from getting started on basic skills, more advanced training and tips on maintenance and equipment. It includes popular routes and links and covers the types of issues that bikers may come across, from the skills of cornering, to where to get a cup of coffee. The roads in the West of Scotland are understandably very attractive to motorcyclists from all parts of the country and beyond. Although it is extremely positive that riders come to enjoy the scenery and roads within the area, there have been concerns at the number of motorcycle casualties experienced in recent years. Motorcyclists are roughly 35 times more likely to be killed in a road traffic accident than car occupants, per mile ridden. It is hoped this magazine will help to focus the attention of bikers on all aspects of their riding. Copies of the magazine are available from Motorcycle dealers and venues popular with motorcyclists. Road safety officers in all of the Councils in the West of Scotland will also be able to supply copies on demand, and the magazine will also be available digitally on the Council website. 3.5 Argyll and Bute Council: Oban and the Isles Air Services 3.5.1 Oban and the Isles Air Services The passengers carried on the isles air services operated out of Oban airport continue to grow in the first quarter of 2016. This continues the trend of growth from last year. In 2015 passengers carried on Oban and the Isles Air Services rose to just over 4,200. In total 4,262 passengers were carried during 2015 compared to 3,516 during 2014.